Free The Language Inside by Holly Thompson Page A

Serey
    later, when we leave
    Samnang hangs back by his mother
    and Beth walks beside me to the car
    and whispers
sorry
    I’m not quite sure what that was all about
    but nobody needs to tell me
    what it’s all about

     

Sunday I wake up way too early
    in a way foul mood
    and I wish things were as simple
    as flicking switches
                   some thoughts on
                   some thoughts off
    I find Samnang Gill on Facebook
    but don’t friend him yet

     
    I go for an early-morning run
    and do sit-ups
    and push-ups
    and other self-inflicted punishment
    I decline YiaYia’s offer to go to church
    not really wanting to be near Lowell
    just in case I see Sam . . . Samnang
    I’m hoping Samnang will text
    and say something like
                   
sorry about that Serey stuff
                   
she’s just my cousin
    or something else to deny
    that he has a girlfriend

     
    then just after I’ve showered and dressed
    Toby flies into the room
    with the computer open
    and there is Madoka
    waving at me
    oh my God!
I say
    you forgot!
she says
didn’t you!
    behind her are Kenji, Shin and Kako
    and they are all laughing
    because my hair is not even combed
    and I really did forget that we had
    emailed and agreed on this time
    it’s so weird to see them there
    in Madoka’s living room
    while I’m here in YiaYia’s house
    and we all start talking at once—
    they’re asking questions
    I’m asking questions
    and the words get Skype-garbled
    slow down!
I tell them
    they ask about my school life
    and how much I weigh
    and then they all cover their ears
    like I’m talking too loud

     
    finally when I ask Madoka
    about her grandparents and relatives
    the others are quiet
    Madoka says they’re doing okay
    that it’s getting cold up there
    that her grandparents will visit
    Kamakura at New Year’s
    your aunt?
I ask
    not yet
she says
    meaning they still
    haven’t recovered
    her body
    then Madoka’s mother appears
    Emma-chan, how are you?
    take good care of your mother!

     
    then her mother leaves
    Shin and Kenji say good-bye
    Kako, too
    it’s already ten-thirty at night there
    and they need to go home
    then, when it’s just Madoka and me, she says
    you know . . . 
    when your mom finished talking with my mom
    and your mom gave the computer to Toby
    as Toby was walking upstairs with the computer
    Shin asked Toby if you have a boyfriend yet
    and Toby said . . . 
well, maybe
    I groan
    no!
    what did Shin say?
    he said yappari
—of course
    so? do you?
Madoka asks

     
    tell Shin it’s not even a maybe
I say
    but Madoka’s brows are raised
    her eyes bore into mine
    at least not yet
I add
    and then we’re laughing
    and I tell her all that’s been going on
    with school, and Zena, and dance club pirouettes
    and fouettés and a little about Samnang
    Madoka theorizes that Serey is Samnang’s
    stepsister or aunt or daughter
    and we’re yakking almost as fast
    and crazy as if we were in the same room
    and she’s saying don’t worry about Shin
    because he’s got his eye on some girl in the archery club
    then Mom comes in to announce that my grandparents
    have arrived from Vermont
    and I have to tear myself away from Madoka
    to step back into America

     

Gram and Gramps
    my mother’s parents
    hug us and hold our hands
    and once I’ve combed my hair
    they drive Toby, Mom, me and YiaYia
    to Newburyport where we walk along
    the waterfront and among the old houses
    we’re at the mouth of the river
    the exact same one that flows through
    Lowell and YiaYia’s town
    but here I can’t stop gulping the air
    because it smells of the sea

     
    at the restaurant where we stop for lunch
    Gram and Gramps, who’ve visited us in Japan
    ask about Madoka
    and our cat Shoga
    and Toby’s friends
    and if I’m keeping up my Japanese
    and what foods we miss most
    and if I’d like to come visit them in
    Vermont for part